While CTPV remains a niche application, India adopted it first in Mehsana in 2012. Also in 2014, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a pilot scheme for grid-connected CTPV and canal bank projects with a target of 50 MW each.
About CTPV
- Meaning: In CTPV, solar panels are mounted on specialised structures built over canal stretches.
- Systems can be built based on canal’s width, design, and orientation, spanning the canal or along canal banks in a way to allow unobstructed water flow.
- Potential in India: Estimated India’s CTPV and canal bank potential is around 131 GW (for canals up to 30 m wide).
Advantages of CTPV
- Requires No Additional Land: E.g., in Punjab, installation of 20 MW of CTPV systems is estimated to have saved nearly 100 acres of land.
- Reduces the amount of canal water lost to evaporation: A 1-MW CTPV system over Narmada Canal in Mehsana, Gujarat (2012) saves close to 9 million litres of water every year.
Potential Roadblocks
- High system cost: It is more expensive than ground-mounted ones as they require elevated structures to span canal stretches including difficulty in maintenance.
- Linear Nature: Running along course of canals, can also pose challenges when canals change direction increasing the cost of producing electricity.
Way Forward
- Tailored Financing mechanisms: Viability gap funding and low-cost debt.
- Renewed Policy Push: Standardised specifications, capacity building of state nodal agencies, etc.
